Jeep Patriot Diesel - is it awful? Real Road Test!

Far too much glamour lately, so here's a return to form! A leggy American 4x4 SUV with some Japanese DNA, powered by a Volkswagen diesel engine, with the interior build quality of a City Rover and built during the rather dreadful era of DaimlerChrysler. Must be dreadful, surely?

Want to help Hubnut for free? Don't forget to like the video if you like it, and share with your friends if you really like it! Thank you all.

[kingedwin]

In the U.S, these are just reliable enough that they're still on the road, but so bad that no one really wants to buy them. They've replaced the PT Cruiser as the go-to vehicle when you just need a running car and want to spend as little as possible.

[terencehawkes]

Built for extreme on-roading! Good one Ian, and so accurate!

[peterwilding]

"We can go anywhere a Ford Fiesta can go" - Love it!

[vwestlife]

The automotive press hated the Jeep Patriot, but the people I know who've actually owned one were happy with it -- they just wish it got better fuel economy with the gas/petrol engines it came with here in the U.S., because styling a vehicle to look like a box on wheels unsurprisingly does not make it very aerodynamic.

[modmonsterscarclub]

I own a 2008 Jeep Patriot 2.0CRD Limited and I agree with what you have stated here. I enjoy driving the Jeep but it's not as nice as some of the competition. But at least it stands out and is quite reliable compared to its land rover equivalent

[wgeddis]

"There's a lot of tissues in there, we won't ask questions" Absolutely hilarious 😂😂😂

[alexsabothomas]

Here in Canada I had a 2007 Jeep Compass 4x4 (same platform as the Patriot) with a 2.4L petrol and CVT it did 327, 000 kms (203, 000 miles) before we had to scrap it, best car we ever owned it and miss it. Oddly despite the cheap bland interior, the plastics held up pretty damn well and barley rattled plus the seats had little stress marks.

[chrismusgrave]

I had one of these and loved it. Only got rid due to getting the opportunity to trade it in for a nice 3 series BMW, but did really love the Patriot. Never had any problems in the 3 years I owned it.

[stuartmcdonald]

I had one of these on a 2008 plate. Slightly different, more angular interior and way more sound proofing. A decent vehicle really but the turbo blew inside 20k (replaced under warranty) then the engine spat it's dummy out at 62k!!! Sold for scrap after putting a claim in against I won. Great vid and nice to see more of the average. Also Mrs hubnut, great camera work.

[Grimwriggler]

Very refreshing review Ian The 2.0 diesel were a little more refined than the 1.9TDI with 16 valves over the 8 . i recenly drove a 2.0 Golf and was totally bored . My 1.9 TDI from 98 is a tractor as they often seem to be from that era but i love its torque

[brentboswell]

The Diesel (and manual transmission!) were forbidden fruit for us here in the home market. I encountered one of these things on the trail while Jeeping in Colorado. I specifically recall encountering a particularly nasty muddy dip in the trail, that the Patriot owner gingerly drove around. I was right behind him in a Wrangler JL Rubicon, so I just forged straight ahead 😂

[allanfoster]

Rural. Is an understatement. What lovely countryside.

[Twistededgemedia]

They're nice and unique if you want something different, and quite practical too. But man do they have some issues, early models had major subframe problems both front and rear, ABS faults very common, oil pump issues resulting in an oil starved engine, turbo issues, power steering issues, rear arches rot in real-time whilst you look at them. It's a shame as if Chrysler had put just a bit more money into them they could have been great. Have one sat outside needing all of the above, can't bring myself to get rid but can't justify the cost either, it's one of those cars.

[danentwisle]

We considered one back when they were new. That Fisher Price interior meant we never got further than seeing one in the showroom. Mind you, from memory the Outlander we checked out at the same time wasn’t much better. We couldn’t stretch to a Grand Cherokee, so opted for Mazda’s excellent CX-7. No regrets there.

[martinneumann]

A decent car for trailer pulling, isn’t it? Nice road test with the British humour I like so much…

[torresalex]

The centre passenger on the back seat has to be legless because their footwell is filled with cupholder, as thin as a lamppost because the seat and even the headrest are incredibly narrow but with incredibly long arms to reach the seatbelt that's next to the tailgate

[stuartharvey]

I've got one of these. I've had to replace one of the wheel hubs because the ABS sensor clip had rotted out (quite a common thing for these vehicles, apparently). However, other than that, it's been pretty good.

The previous owner put lowered springs on it, so it sits a few inches lower. Most people seem to think it looks great like that. I don't, since I'm not a teenager, and I'll look to get the normal ones put back in. I mean, what's the point of a 4x4 if you haven't got the ground clearance to use it?!?

Anyway, It's spacious enough with the seats down that we were able to transport our 4 greyhounds with us to a holiday in Wales and back in relative comfort. Also averaged about 54mpg en route, although that was 60mph most of the way.

The only real criticism I have is the interior. I've got the pre-facelift version, and it looks like it's been taken from an 80's Datsun - all angles and cheap plastics .

[fpman]

If I remember correctly, later models had a Mercedes 2.2 engine, in place of the VW unit. Not sure if the refinement was improved by that change.

[zubeystinzen]

Interior reminds of my old Chrysler PT cruiser, i loved that styling especially linked to the 2.2 merc lump. The ride was surprisingly tight & pretty capable on the quicker roads.
I did toy with the Idea of buying a jeep but was soon put off with the price of parts like with the PT cruiser. Now where did i put my violin case😂

[PieterB]

11:23 To my knowledge the C4 Aircross and C-Zero (both Mitsubishi clones just like the C-Crosser) were also made in Japan.